Backbone

Backbone is here! It’s the first of a number of sweaters I have coming out for autumn and winter, and I hope you guys like it as much as I do.

It’s very simple to knit, but the cable down the back keeps it from becoming boring.

I designed Backbone as a wardrobe staple, the sort of sweater you can reach for when you want a sweatshirt, but wear in more formal settings. The idea was based on a cotton/rayon blend sweater I wore from high school until it fell apart. There was nothing fancy about that sweater, but it always looked good and it was always comfortable. The drape is different in Backbone, as is the sleeve length, collar, and cable, but the alpaca content of the Knit Picks City Tweed DK ensures a nice drape and comfortably soft hand. (It also comes in a myriad of colors. I am very interested in seeing what the sweater would look like in a less bone themed choice!)

Backbone has zero waist shaping and is worn here with positive ease in the bust, but the modified raglan sleeve offers a good fit even with extra ease. It is knit from the top down, in the round.

The collar can be worn open or closed. I sewed buttons to both sides of the button placket, decorative fox buttons on the visible side, and flat black buttons on the reverse. I love it buttoned and unbuttoned! I hope to see other Backbones out in the wilds of the knitting web soon. You can get Backbone in the pattern store.